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Times
4 days ago
- Times
A Latvia city break for less than £400? Here's all you need to know
The Med's big cities are still sweltering and crowded in early September but Latvia's pretty, compact capital makes a lovely short break. Temperatures are in the early 20s for sweat-free sightseeing — ideal for wandering the medieval old town, enjoying riverside walks and urban parks or even heading to beaches within easy reach of the city centre. Plus, there's a clutch of industrial warehouses turned contemporary galleries, plenty of traditional cafés in which to sample Latvian cuisine, and a thriving craft beer scene. Three nights' room-only at the four-star Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel, including flights from Stansted with Ryanair, costs £324pp with Tui. An under-seat cabin bag is included, but you can add a 20kg suitcase for an extra £56 return. A taxi from the airport costs about £30, or you can take the No 22 bus to 11 Novembra Krastmala, about five minutes' walk from the hotel (£2; • Read our full guide to Latvia The hotel is in the Unesco-listed old town, with all its attractions and restaurants within walking distance. The central bus and train station are about a 15-minute stroll, allowing for easy day trips. The hotel has a smart, contemporary feel, with oatmeal rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, geometric carpets and all-white bathrooms. There's a cheerily decorated restaurant, a roof terrace overlooking the river, and the largest spa in the old town, which includes an indoor pool, a cedar steam bath and a beer ritual room for bathing in water infused with hops, malt and yeast. Start by sightseeing from the water with a boat trip around the old town's canals (£10; Then wander the cobbled squares and narrow alleyways, lined with gothic churches and pastel-coloured or art nouveau buildings, many of which were reconstructed after the fall of communism. St Peter's Church has a 57m-high observation deck for panoramic views over the red rooftops (£8; while the former cork factory, Zuzeum, houses the world's largest private collection of Latvian art (£10; Walk along the city walls to the 17th-century Swedish Gate, then discover the city's turbulent history at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (£7; and the KGB's former headquarters, the Corner House (£13; Stock up on picnic supplies at the riverside Riga Central Market — one of Europe's largest markets — originally used as a military airship hangar. Eat alongside locals at the central Bastejkalna Park, with its canal, sculptures and opera house, or hop on the No 11 tram to Mezaparks to enjoy the pine forest, walking trails and swimmable Lake Kisezers. Alternatively, the sandy Jurmala beach is half an hour away by train from Riga train station and has seafront restaurants, a wooden boardwalk and forested dunes (£2 each way; Spend your final evening in the city's Beer District, a 1.5-mile walking route linking ten craft breweries and gastropubs that offer more than 200 Latvian craft beers. • The most affordable European city breaks • Return Stansted-Riga flights, departing on September 7• Three nights' room-only at Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel ( Feeling flush? If you're inspired but you've got more cash to splash, you could try Located in a beautifully restored 17th -century building on a cobbled street in the old town, the five-star Dome hotel has 15 stylish rooms decorated in warm oak and soft neutral tones, with white-tiled bathrooms. Top-floor rooms have river views. There's a small spa with a Finnish sauna, a cigar lounge and a rooftop terrace open until October, with sweeping views of the Dome Cathedral. The fine-dining restaurant is Michelin-listed and serves a five or seven-course tasting menu of French-inspired dishes. Central Market, St Peter's Church and the city's best museums are all less than 15 minutes' walk away. Details Three nights' B&B from £746pp, including flights and private car transfers ( • Great European getaways for 2025 There's plenty of space to spread out at the boutique Neiburgs, which has 55 apartment-rooms in an ornate art nouveau-era property on a street next to the Dome Cathedral. Two-storey apartments have a Scandi-chic feel, with exposed wooden beams and white brick walls, parquet flooring, a tasteful palette of pale blues, charcoal greys and cream, and original graphic art by Katrina Neiburga. There's a living room and small kitchenette on one floor and a bedroom and bathroom on the other. All have either cathedral or old-town views. Downstairs there's a light-flooded library, a spa with a sauna, and a Michelin-recommended restaurant serving Latvian Three nights' B&B from £1,430pp, including flights ( • Best Baltic cruises
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Who do Blues, Larne and Swifts face in Europe?
Whilst Cliftonville's European journey came to an end following defeat in extra time by St Joseph's last week, three more Irish Premiership sides remain in the Uefa Conference Cup winners Linfield drop into the second qualifying round of the competition after an aggregate defeat by League of Ireland champions Shelbourne in Champions League progressed to the second round of this competition with a penalty shootout win against Auda in Riga as they aim to reach the league phase of the Conference League for a second successive Swifts, by virtue of winning the Irish Cup, are only entering the Conference League now and are primed for their first European game in over a of all three playing the first legs of their second-round ties on Thursday, BBC Sport NI takes a look at their opponents. Lithuania awaits for Linfield Linfield have only had a week to prepare for their Conference League game against Lithuanian side will be looking to bounce back from the Shelbourne defeat, but it will be a difficult game against a side who have some pedigree in became the first Lithuanian club to qualify for the group stages of a European club competition when they reached the Conference League group stage in finished bottom of their group but managed five points including a win from their six games. Last season's A Lyga champions have struggled this campaign, they currently sit fifth in their domestic league with 20 games first leg is away in Vilnius and kicks off at 17:00 BST on Thursday, with the second leg at Windsor Park next David Healy's side manage to win over the two legs, the Blues will face Vikingur from the Faroe Islands in the next round. Larne host Prishtina at Ballymena Showgrounds Larne will still be on a high from their penalty shootout win against Auda and will be determined to build on that victory as they plot a route back to European league stage football after last year's Rooney's side welcome FC Prishtina to the Ballymena Showgrounds for the first leg which kicks off at 20:00 BST on second leg will take place next Thursday in Pristina and the side that progressed will face the winner of the tie involving Portuguese side CD Santa Clara and Croatian outfit NK Prishtina are the most successful club in Kosovo, having won 11 Kosovan Superleague titles, nine Kosovar Cups and 11 Kosovar are back in European competition for the first time since the 2021/22 campaign after winning the Kosovar Cup final in Kosovan side began in the Europa League but lost 5-2 on aggregate against Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol and dropped down the Conference League. Swifts travel to Liechtenstein Dungannon Swifts will be raring to go for their first European tie in 18 years as they travel to Liechtenstein to take on FC Vaduz on Thursday in the first leg of their tie which kicks off at 18:30 Irish Cup winners have twice played in Europe before, when they lost in the 2006 Intertoto Cup to Keflavik IF in the first round and in qualifying for the 2007-08 Uefa Cup, when they were defeated by Lithuanian side FK FC Vaduz are from Liechtenstein, they curiously play in Switzerland, the second tier Challenge League to be exact, after relegation from the Swiss Super League in won the Liechtensteiner Cup final against Balzers to reach the second round of Conference League qualifying. Vaduz made history in 2022 as by beating Rapid Wien they qualified for the group stages of the Conference League, becoming the first ever club from Liechtenstein to reach the group stages of a European club finished bottom of a tough group that included AZ Alkmaar, Apollon Limassol and Dnipro, picking up two points from their six is a potential big prize at stake for the winners of this tie as they could face Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar or Finnish side Ilves in the third Irish Premiership clubs can progress past this round of qualifying then they are potentially four matches away from replicating Larne's historic run to the League stage of the Conference League last season.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Larne beat Auda on penalties to progress to second round
Larne progressed to the second round of Uefa Conference League qualifying with a 4-2 penalty shootout win against Auda in the second leg in a goalless draw in the first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds, Larne twice fought back from behind to draw 2-2 after extra time at Stadions were perfect with their penalties as Chris Gallagher, Paul O'Neill, Dan Bent and Tiernan O'Connor all scored their spot Ferguson saved Kemehlo Nguena's penalty and Ousmane Camara missed his spot kick as Larne went Rooney's side will face FC Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova or FC Prishtina of Kosovo in the second qualifying round later this month. Spot on from Invermen It was a bright start from Rooney's side as O'Neill fired wide after two minutes before Kader Kone headed over at the other end soon threatened again when Ryan Nolan's header from Conor McKendry's free-kick on 19 minutes was hacked off the Randall then cleared Kone's effort off the line, but the Inver outfit's resolve was broken three minutes later as Abdoul Traore netted the went close again before Mattheus Clemente's snapshot came back off the post as the hosts went in ahead at half-time. Larne pushed for the equaliser and were rewarded five minutes after the break as McKendry smashed home from outside the were level for just two minutes however, as substitute Enzo Monteiro's goal helped Auda regain the side continued to fight and were level once again with O'Neill scoring on 66 extra time, Ferguson was alert to thwart Alexander Ogunji and Jackson Kenio, whilst substitute Matt Ridley's header from a corner came back off the then showed their composure from the spot with Gallagher slotting home before Ferugson saved Nguena's spot kick.O'Neill and Stevenson Jeudi were both accurate with their penalties, as were Bent and Renars O'Connor netted to put Larne on the brink and Camara was off-target with his spot kick to help the visitors, who reached the league phase of the Conference League last season, move into the second qualifying round.
Bloomberg
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Latvia's Premier Signals Ukraine Will Get New Patriot Batteries
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina signaled that Ukraine will receive a delivery of the US-made Patriot air defense systems as the country comes under increasingly relentless Russian drone and missile strikes. 'There is a commitment to help Ukraine with new Patriot systems,' the premier told reporters in Riga after she took part in a call with Ukrainian allies on Thursday. 'How that will happen and when that will happen, I think that is restricted information.'
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Next Healthcare Arbitrage: PE And VC Bet On Compounding Pharmacies
An Ozempic (semaglutide) injection pen is seen on a kitchen table in Riga, Latvia on 06 August, ... More 2023. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Flush with funding and surging demand, compounding pharmacies are attracting capital from private equity firms, venture capital firms, and hospitals, reshaping the pharmaceutical power dynamic from the bottom up. This is Part 2 of a two-part series on compounding pharmacies. In A Dose Of Disruption: How Compounding Pharmacies Are Challenging Big Pharma On GLP-1 Drugs And Drug Patents, we explored how compounders are rewriting the rules on GLP-1s and drug patents. Now, we turn to the capital behind the curtain—how private equity, venture capital, and hospital systems are fueling the rise of an alternate pharmaceutical infrastructure. I. From Niche to Infrastructure: The Rise of Compounding Big Pharma has long operated like a legal cartel—protected by evergreening patents, backroom pay-for-delay deals, and control over formularies that dictate which drugs insurers and hospitals will cover. It reinforces this dominance through aggressive lobbying, public relations campaigns, and billions spent on direct-to-consumer and physician marketing. But cracks are forming. Amid persistent drug shortages and growing demand for personalization, a quieter revolution is taking hold. The Evolution of Compounding Pharmacies Compounding pharmacies, once the backrooms of mom-and-pop drugstores, are evolving into a multibillion-dollar infrastructure play. Investors are waking up to the fact that the next big pharmaceutical disruption may not come from the lab—it might come from the compounding bench. Market forecasts peg the U.S. compounding pharmacy sector at $6.31 billion in 2024, projected to reach $10.76 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.1%. This expansion is driven by drug shortages, telehealth, chronic conditions, rising consumer demand for personalization, and increased provider interest in patient-centered care. Therapeutic Focus: Hormone therapy, dermatology, chronic pain, sexual health, pet meds, longevity and personalized medicineRegulatory Categories: FDA 503A (traditional compounders), 503B (outsourcing facilities)Key Players: Empower Pharmacy, QuVa Pharma, Leiters, VLS Pharmacy, PCCARisks: Sterility concerns, FDA scrutiny, lack of drug approval for compounded versions, state–federal oversight inconsistenciesSources: BioSpace, Nova One Advisor, FDA, company websites Compounding pharmacies address deep structural inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical system. They offer a flexible response to drug shortages and supply fragility, serve patients needing personalized or niche formulations, and operate outside the opaque pricing mechanisms dominated by just a few major pharmaceutical companies. For patients, they represent a more accessible and responsive alternative—especially in the context of rising telehealth adoption. What makes this model particularly attractive to investors is its strong financial profile. First, compounded medications often treat chronic conditions like hormone therapy or dermatological issues, creating reliable subscription-based revenue. Second, many compounders handle their own fulfillment, bypassing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and wholesalers—leading to significantly higher margins. Third, customer acquisition costs (CAC) are often low, thanks to prescriber-driven referrals and integrated telehealth platforms. Finally, regulatory arbitrage allows compounders to legally operate under FDA 503A and 503B exemptions—producing medications without full FDA approval, provided they meet specific patient or clinical use requirements. The legacy image of the compounder—splitting pills behind the counter—no longer applies. Today's leaders are deeply embedded into healthcare infrastructure. These platforms don't just fill scripts—they control the entire patient experience, from diagnosis to doorstep. Vertical Integrators: Platform Partners (Non-Owners): The competitive pressure isn't just coming from startups. Giants like Amazon have entered the pharmacy space with mail-order prescriptions, fulfillment infrastructure, and its $1B+ acquisition of PillPack—reshaping consumer expectations around convenience, speed, and price transparency. While Amazon doesn't operate in compounding, its presence adds urgency for verticalized platforms to differentiate through personalization and specialty formulations. Personalized medicine is no longer limited to tailoring doses—it's becoming a cornerstone of the rapidly growing longevity economy. As wealthy consumers, biohackers, and digital health platforms chase enhanced immunity, energy optimization, and age reversal, compounding pharmacies are increasingly part of the protocol. Biohackers like Bryan Johnson—whose multimillion-dollar quest to reverse aging includes aggressive biomonitoring, nutrient tracking, and intravenous therapies—have helped bring visibility to personalized protocols. IV drips for immune support, NAD+, hydration, and energy are now offered not just in wellness clinics, but in luxury medspas, concierge practices (for optimizing IVF results and longevity), and hotel suites across major cities. Many of these formulations originate from compounding pharmacies, which supply customized injectables, infusions, or troches based on client goals and lab results. In the oncology space, personalized adjunct therapies—like low-dose naltrexone, topical pain relievers, and customized hormone or sleep aids—are often compounded to support patients alongside conventional treatment. These niche interventions highlight compounding's ability to fill therapeutic gaps that mass-manufactured drugs can't reach. The demand is scaling fast—fueled by longevity clinics, telehealth labs, personalized diagnostic startups, and medspas. Investors are beginning to recognize that compounding pharmacies are not just reactive stopgaps. They're becoming critical infrastructure for proactive, precision-driven medicine that caters to a future of biologically tuned care. Compounding pharmacies operate under FDA's 503A and 503B guidance, outside the NDA pathway. This enables them to: 1) bypass patents, 2) serve during shortages, and 3) personalize formulations. In 2023–24, compounded GLP-1s like semaglutide exploded in popularity due to shortages and affordability. Hims, Ro, and others jumped in, as detailed in The GLP-1 Revolution—Everyone (And Their Moms) Are On GLP-1s. TikTok amplified the demand. Then came the blowback: Yet demand persisted. Empower Pharmacy, a scaled 503B facility, continues to fill tens of thousands of GLP-1 scripts monthly. The sector is under growing scrutiny: Still, Empower has retained the support of respected clinicians. 'If I need something, I would get it from Empower,' said Dr. Larry Lipshultz, a urologist at Baylor College of Medicine. 'There's no question that you're dealing with a first-class operation.' He estimates Empower's alternatives are up to 80% cheaper than branded drugs—a crucial differentiator for out-of-pocket payers. Big Pharma has also seen quality missteps. Most recently, Sandoz recalled a lot of cefazolin due to mispackaging, underscoring that safety lapses are industry-wide. Private Equity: Venture Capital: Hospital Systems: This cross-capital convergence shows compounding isn't a fringe workaround—it's becoming fundamental infrastructure. As detailed in A Dose of Disruption: How Compounding Pharmacies Are Challenging Big Pharma On GLP-1 Drugs And Drug Patents, compounded medicine is redefining price, personalization, and access. If courts crack down on patent evergreening and capitalized compounders keep scaling, a decentralized, faster, cheaper alternative to Big Pharma could emerge. As compounders scale across B2B (hospitals) and B2C (telehealth), regulatory compliance becomes make-or-break. 503B compounders must demonstrate proactive compliance and high-quality controls. QuVa (Bain) and Leiters (hospital-backed) are well-positioned. Empower remains under scrutiny, even as it scales. Any major incident could reshape public trust—and investor interest. If Big Pharma is the last legal drug cartel, then compounding pharmacies are its insurgents—and PE and VC are backing them for a market coup. In this battle over price, trust, and access, the rebels aren't just disrupting—they're rebuilding.
